News > Humpback whales can’t swallow a human. Here’s why.

Humpback whales can’t swallow a human. Here’s why.

Though a humpback could easily fit a human inside its huge mouth—which can reach around 10 feet—it’s scientifically impossible for the whale to swallow a human once inside, according to Nicola Hodgins of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a U.K. nonprofit.

The idea of whales swallowing humans has long been a part of mythology—so much so that many people believe it to be true.